I'm talking about Subway's sandwiches, people! What'd you think I was referring to? Apparently, many of the "Footlong" sandwiches we've been eating at Subway may not be as long as promised. In 2013, an Australian teenager posted an image of his sandwich on Facebook that measured only 11 inches. It generated international media attention, with The New York Post writing that four out of seven Footlongs it bought in New York measured only 11 or 11.5 inches. A class-action suit was filed against Subway thereafter. A judge last week granted final approval to a settlement of the suit. As part of the settlement, Subway agreed to take steps to ensure its bread is at least 12 inches long, with franchisees now required to use a tool for measuring bread. I'm glad Subway was busted. We work too hard for our money to be stiffed. Any company that tries to cut corners and mislead consumers in any way should be dealt with appropriately. In this case, no monetary...

What better way to promote peace than with a mammoth, mouth-watering burger? Burger King, Denny's, Wayback Burgers, The Krystal Co., and Giraffas have teamed up to produce a massive burger comprised of the restaurants' ingredients -- all to raise awareness of the International Day of Peace, which is observed annually on Sept. 21. An Atlanta pop-up shop handed out 1,500 of them today in the name of global peace. The tradition was established by the United Nations in 1982. Burger King first reached out to McDonald's and proposed they set aside their differences for one day in honor of the International Day of Peace and create a burger that combined both restaurants' ingredients -- a "McWhopper," if you will. But McDonald's passed. However, four restaurants -- Denny's, Wayback, Krystal, and Giraffas -- all wrote to Burger King expressing interest in collaborating on this effort. The result? A gargantuan sandwich that melds ingredients from the resta...

A recent study on the psychology of trademarks finds that people perceive brands in the same way as they do faces. Researchers compared the reactions of viewers to 16 renowned brands -- Cola-Cola and Apple among them -- and 18 computer-generated faces. The subjects were asked to evaluate the pictures according to various attributes including trustworthiness and assertiveness. Two basic dimensions dictated how a large proportion of how both trademarks and faces are perceived: (1) Overall assessment, which represents the observer's assessment of how trustworthy brands or people are and how favorable they find them to be, and (2) The impression of strength, which involves acting on the ability to correctly detect intentions -- whether they be good or bad. Most of us can identify with the results of the study. For example, after the BP oil spill that took place a few years ago, resulting in extensive damage to wildlife habitats and fishing and tourism industries, most consumers w...

Jared Fogle became the face of Subway after the sandwich chain released a commercial in 2000 chronicling his impressive weight loss journey -- one that saw him drop close to 250 pounds thanks to his exercise routine and a simple diet that included Subway sandwiches. Fast forward to 2015 and the bespectacled pitchman finds his life in shambles. He intends to plead guilty to child pornography charges and to traveling across state lines to pay for sex with minors. The plea deal would see Fogle serve between 5 and 12 1/2 years of jail time. Not surprisingly, Subway cut all ties with Fogle as soon as his home was raided by authorities. Fogle's wife plans to file for divorce, and the pitchman must adhere to a pornography ban and seek treatment for sexual disorders. The story is shocking to say the least. Who would have thought this man -- who seemed to project a squeaky clean image -- had so many skeletons in the closet? Subway did the right thing in wasting no time repudiating F...

Who would have ever thought that McDonald's -- known throughout the world for its Happy Meals, iconic gold arches, and, of course, Ronald McDonald -- would be foundering in 2015? The fast-food giant's profit and sales have fallen off a cliff over the past year or so, prompting executives to make drastic changes in the way McDonald's does business. It's pretty easy to pin down why McDonald's finds itself in dire straits. For one, millennials are flocking to more healthful alternatives like Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chick-fil-A, and Five Guys. In light of the well-publicized obesity epidemic, concerned parents now frown upon McDonald's kid-targeted advertising. Even the company's drive-through service, which was humming along just a few years ago, is slower than ever. In an effort to break out of this sales slump, McDonald's is working on upgrading its menu and stores, improving service, and implementing modernized payment systems. They're even tes...